The Water is Wide

The Water is Wide

Recorded in Nashville's West Park

Accompaniment:

Briley Parkway Traffic

Birds

Footsteps

Origins of The Water is Wide

Covid song 1--I made this up on a dog walk

and recorded it on my iPhone Voice Memo app. Cleaned it up a little with Garage Band. I'm working on some songs for a COVID-19 album. I know. That's crazy. Listen to this, an Irish pub song:

Godforsaken

Whistle while you listen. Even better, record your whistling in any kind of .mp3 track and I'll mix it in. Or sing along to it and record that. Be good to have a dozen or so out of tune but enthusiastic voices.

Stay Away

Greetings, fellow earthlings. I do love to make up songs in my head whilst walking my lovely big dawg, Watson. I have a new one and the (at least, working) melody is a blatant rip off of John Prine's "Christmas in Prison." That's okay, I know, because it's folk music and John likely ripped that melody straight off of an old country folk song he had in his magnificent brain. Happens all the time in the genre. I only mention that because it will help you sing your own version in your own shower. Or. Wherever.

Here it is, and I'll add a recording if I get to it:

Stay Away

I’ve been at a distance 

For most of my life

I only get close to

My dog and my wife

It ain’t that hard

To stay in my yard

Lucky for me

It’s a good place to be

If I have a task

That calls for a mask

You can be sure

My intentions are pure

I ain’t robbin’ no bank

At least I don’t think 

I will

Until the zombies

Are coming’ for me

Chorus:

Stay away

as far as you can

These troubled days

Were nobody’s plan

Stay away

Keep yours from mine

We’ll be okay

It all will be fine

Now I know that that last bit

Is likely a lie

But I have to say it

I have to try

To keep up my spirits

So you have to hear it

Told again and again

Best to you my friend

(I said)

Stay away

as far as you can

These troubled days

Were nobody’s plan

Stay away

Keep yours from mine

We’ll be okay

It will all turn out fine

We’ll be okay

It will all turn out fine

We’ll be okay

It will all turn out fine

By the way, as I post this, John Prine is in stable condition in a Nashville hospital with COVID-19. I have every belief that his condition will continue to improve and that he will rebound again, as he has done many times with other health issues, and return into our fold to bring us more brilliant musical masterpieces. His music always makes me smile, even when it's sad. "Come on Home," John. We need you these days. And, dear reader, my boy Watson says, "keep well."

Here's a draft .mp3 I recorded 041520. God rest John. 

Remarkably and more...

Just listened to this little piece I put together last Lee Ann's birthday. The refrain is the title of her mythological memoir, which she will likely never write, and the tattoo she will likely never write.
Kinda fun, created on my iPhone on a dog walk and recorded at our breakfast island on my laptop with Audacity on a vintage nylon string Framus guitar. I particularly like the improvised break, recorded with no real planning in one take. I think it's kind of Willie Nelson-ish. Okay then. Stay tuned after for a handful of Colin's demo recordings.



and happy holidays:

CDBaby Music Widget

Late last evening, I was at a friend's home last night listening to my dear son, Colin, play acoustically a couple of his brilliant original songs, soon to be available in the form of a 4 song EP, and one of the little audience asked me what kind of music I play. Well, I don't play enough these days. Lost in day-to-day work and service, I keep forgetting this is on my blog as a tab; but since it sometimes doesn't draw enough attention, I want to post it today to remind me, and you, that this set of musical snapshots, drawn from Alaska concert halls 'way back in 1979, is here, along with some garage recorded original instrumentals. Here you are.